Trying Times

Hi everyone! I haven’t written a post in a long time, and with our stay-at-home days, now felt like the right time. I sincerely hope you’re all well and that you’ve found things to fill your time.

I stocked up on chocolate, so I’m happy. Too bad I didn’t stock up on toilet paper and tissues. Has anyone noticed, in the middle of all the talk about hoarding toilet paper, that the facial tissues have disappeared, too? Cleaning products? Forget it.

I know that people are having a difficult time during the Covid19 pandemic. Some people are feeling fear and panic. Wasn’t it Franklin D. Roosevelt who said, in his 1933 Inaugural Address, “There’s nothing to fear but fear itself?” Be cautious, use your common sense, and live your life, even if it’s within the confines of your own home. Read a book, watch television, play games or do whatever holds your interest. I hear a neighbor outside mowing his lawn. I live in the far northwest corner of the United States. It’s still cold here and I wouldn’t be out mowing my lawn, but to each his own.

Because of a few health issues, I’ve made my last trip to the grocery store for a while. I’m not willing to take chances so I’m using my common sense and staying at home, looking for things to keep me busy. My writing keeps me busy. My housecleaning keeps me busy, too, but there’s only so much you can do. So here I am, writing a post after a very long time.

I’m a firm believer in humor keeping us going. My daughter has found several jokes online. Some of them are dark humor, but I have to admit that they can still make me laugh.

One of my all-time favorite movies is 1947’s “The Egg and I,” with Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. It’s entertaining and based on the humorous memoir by Betty MacDonald. As a newlywed, her husband wanted to start a chicken farm in Washington State. When she visited her family in Seattle, she related stories of her adventures, or misadventures, on the farm. Her sisters talked her into writing the book.

Once, when visiting my grandmother, I saw the book sitting on her shelf and she gave it to me. I’m afraid it’s been sitting on my own bookshelf since the late 1980s. On a whim, I picked it up this morning and started to read it. I’m only a few pages into the memoir and I can already see the humor in it. I have a feeling when I sit down this evening, with the book, that I won’t be able to put it down.

I believe she wrote the book in 1945. In those days no one had ever heard of political correctness. She’s honest in her feelings, and she’s funny. Set aside the PC attitude and enjoy a good story.

So instead of watching a drama on TV, or reading a horror story, try picking up something with humor. Look for the humor around you.

One of my dogs, Sugar, has a “thing” on her neck. It looks awful. I called the veterinarian yesterday and they had me send photos of this “thing.” It seems she probably scratched or cut her neck and it’s turned into a bacterial infection. I drove to the vet’s office (and it felt so good to get out of the house) , parked, and called them on my cell phone. They have a little table outside, by the front door. A young woman stepped outside, set Sugar’s medications on the table, and scurried back inside. I then left the car and picked up the package. Nothing funny about this so far, right?

I brought home antibiotics and a spray for her neck. After I sprayed her neck, my other dog, Murphy, was so excited and wanted to sniff what I’d sprayed on her. Knowing him, he probably thought I did it just for him. One sniff and he made a fast U-turn and ran out of the room. Oh, yes, the spray has a pungent odor. Murphy’s reaction was one of those things you had to see to recognize the humor in it. Sugar is probably thinking, “Spray me again so he’ll leave me alone.” He does act a little pushy from time to time. By the way, Murphy is a very large Yellow Lab trying to run on a hardwood floor. His exit was not graceful.

My whole point is, try to stay busy, use your common sense and look for something that will make you laugh. At the very least, you want something that will put a smile on your face.

My thoughts are with you all and I pray for all of us every day. God bless you and I wish you good health!

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

(Sorry, but my website is a thing of the past. If I ever work up the courage, I may build a new one in the future.)

The latest Sandi Webster mystery is titled, “No One Will Find Me” and you might find a touch of humor as you get into the story. How do you combine a serial killer, suspense and humor? It can be done.

Rainy Sunday

 I really need an updated picture. One of these days...

It’s a dark, rainy Sunday as I write this, and it's a perfect day for snuggling up on the couch with a good mystery. Unfortunately, instead of that I’m writing a story that takes place during a major heatwave. It’s a bit difficult to write about the heat when I’m sitting at my desk, thinking I should get up and start the fireplace. I moved to Washington from Arizona, and I have to think back to what it was like during the summer in Arizona. Plus, the story takes place in Los Angeles.

Location is so important in a book. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve written enough to help the reader “visit” the location. Arizona, Washington and Los Angeles are so vastly different from each other. I can picture the location in my mind, but can the reader?

A lot of things depend on location, location, location: setting up a business, buying a home, planning a vacation, the setting for a fictional story. And when planning where a story will take place, you also have to think of regional issues such as earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, monsoon storms and snow, rain or heat. Even a volcanic eruption can be an issue, depending on where the story takes place.

Last night was quite windy here, and it was pouring rain. I’d just gone to bed when the wind picked up and the roof on the patio began lifting just enough to bang loudly when it dropped. At first I thought someone was trying to break into the house, but, surprisingly, the dogs didn’t react. I hadn’t noticed the wind when I had the television on. I couldn’t sleep and if my characters were in this situation, they wouldn’t get any sleep either. (Lucky dogs slept right through it.)

Your characters are in the middle of a thunder storm? Are there dogs or cats in the story? How do they react to the situation?

Have you ever lived through an earthquake? A hurricane? Don’t write about these things unless you have experience or a good “go to” witness to these disasters.

So it’s more than just location. It’s what the location is like if there’s an emergency. What’s possible at the location you’ve chosen for the story? There are so many details to consider when writing a story. You can research a blizzard, but if you haven’t lived through one you’re liable to get it wrong. At least talk to someone who’s lived through a blizzard, earthquake or something that could be devastating.

Of course, what if it’s just an average day and the weather is great, the air is clear and there’s a pleasant breeze? Be sure to let the reader know that’s what the day is like, but don’t tell them, show them. Let them figuratively walk in your character’s shoes. Maybe it’s nighttime and the weather is comfortable and clear. What might set this evening apart? Maybe the sound of hundreds of frogs croaking. There’s always something to remark on.

The book I’m currently working on involves some homeless people. It’s an extremely hot summer. It’s so hot out you could cook eggs on the sidewalk. In Oatman, Arizona, an historic tourist town, they actually have a contest involving cooking eggs on the sidewalk. Now that’s hot!

Right now I can look out the window and watch the rain fall. I’ve got the fireplace going and the three dogs are lying around the house, sleeping. It’s so quiet – except for the ticking of a clock. If the phone rang right now it would probably scare me out of a year’s growth. Okay, I stopped growing a long time ago, but you get the idea.

I started out talking about location, location, location, but it’s really about details, details, details. Sometimes the little things count, as long as you don’t go overboard with those details.

Now I’m chuckling. Rereading this post tells me that I’m running out of ideas. Or am I?

As a writer or as a reader, do you want those little details to enhance the story? Do you want to feel like you’re walking through a blizzard with the character in the book?

Until next time, think about where you live and the types of things that go on around you. Maybe you’re not a writer, but can you use your imagination and come up with a story about your day (in the rain, snow, or whatever)?

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website

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You might want to Click above and check out my website to find out more about me and my books.

In the Heat of the Moment ( Or the Summer)

Yes, summer is actually here. I’m in Washington and a few days ago the temperatures were in the low sixties. Today we should get up to the eighties. Time to get out the Tan in a Can (my name for a fake tan so I can wear shorter pants).

Awhile back I wrote about the seasons and how they can pertain to a story. For instance, imagine your character chasing a bad guy on foot in the snow, rain or heat. They can slip in the rain or snow, and they can drop from heat exhaustion in the heat.

However, there’s more to it than just the logistics of chasing someone.

Heat can be your enemy in more ways than one. Tempers can flare easily when the temps are in the triple digit range. Heat-related health problems can play a large part in a mystery. Think Arizona when you think of heat. Trouble on the horizon? Very possibly.

Have you ever thought about the idea that bugs can be an issue? Different seasons bring out different critters. Mosquitos, flies, spiders and yellow jackets can be very annoying.

When it snows, people would often rather stay inside and snuggle up with a good book or a cup of hot chocolate and a movie. Others want to be outside where they can ski or ride on a snowmobile.

I live in Washington, and some people here suffer from sun-deprived depression. Yes, the stories about frequent rain in the western part of the state are true. We can go for days without seeing blue sky or the sun.

Spring and fall. What can I say about those seasons? Generally it’s not too hot nor is it too cold. Those are seasons to look forward to with joy.

Dogs want to be walked no matter what the weather has in store. Life has to go on despite the seasons. Our characters have to adjust to the time of year when the story takes place.

Often authors will use the seasons in a book about a specific holiday. I have a book (Mysteries of Holt House) which involves all of the seasons and several holidays.

I’m starting a new book this week, and right now both spring and summer are on my mind. The location will be Battle Ground, Washington. It’s a small, quaint town and the perfect place for a murder mystery. I haven’t decided if the weather will play a part in the story or not.

The weather can even send a nosey neighbor scurrying inside to get out of the heat/rain/snow. It might block their view while a crime is being committed. The neighbor might be sure a murder is taking place, but that danged blizzard got in the way and her binoculars were of no help.

The ideas about the seasons being involved in a story are endless. Actually, so are the ideas about what that nosey neighbor might see, but that’s off topic.

This week’s post is shorter than usual because I want to go enjoy some of the sunshine. My sun tea should be just about ready. My vegetable garden probably needs watering, and so do the plants. Having moved here from Arizona where there are really only two seasons (hot and hotter), the garden is fun and the growing season is… I don’t know about that yet. Guess I’ll find out. I put up a mini-greenhouse, so maybe that will lengthen the growing season. I hope so.

Until next time, think about the things you like to do and don’t like to do depending on the weather – then think about how your experiences might be used in a story.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

Pea Brain Moments

I’ve been writing blogs since 2010, and figured that one day I’d run out of topics to talk about. I’ve come close a number of times. Suddenly something will creep into my little pea brain and I’m on the case again.

I apologize for missing the past few weeks, but life has been busier than I expected. I’ve mentioned that my house was for sale. It sold. My daughter has been looking for a house in Washington state, where I’m moving, and she found just the right house – within ten days of mine selling! The past few weeks have involved reviewing paperwork, packing, signing paperwork, packing, finagling finances, packing, sorting things into “toss” and “keep” piles, packing – you name it.

Hmm. I wonder what any of this could have to do with writing fiction. Ah, I’ve got it. Use real life experience to write fiction.

Let’s say your character is trying to solve a murder, catch a thief, find a missing person, or any number of issues. Here’s the rub. Your character has put his or her house up for sale. Just as things heat up in an investigation, a buyer makes an offer on the house. The buyer wants all of the character’s attention, understandably, and they want concessions or changes if they’re to buy the house. (Thankfully, this doesn’t describe my buyers. They’re kind-hearted and love the house.)

What’s a character to do? Drop the case being worked on to take care of the buyers? Tell the buyers to get lost? Juggle the case and the sale of the house? Each individual author would have to figure it out to their satisfaction and run with it.

Let’s go a step farther. The character is sorting and packing, and he or she runs into a mystery in the house. Do they sell the house and forget the mystery? Can the mystery be solved before the buyers take over the house? If it’s not solved, would the mystery have a direct effect on the buyer? All good questions, and like a good mystery, they have to be answered and a solution has to take place.

What about the house your character is buying? As he or she moves in, they might find something the previous owner missed. Another mystery blooms.

 

My dogs, Sugar and Murphy, understand that something big is going on. They can’t figure out what it is, but they’re so spun out that they don’t know if they’re coming or going. I have a feeling that moving day is going to be one long remembered. Pets can add an unusual element to a mystery and make things even more hectic than they already are.

Interestingly, I’ve given myself a few ideas just by writing this post. I’ll have to take notes and think about a new story idea.

I’ve had to set my current Work in Progress aside, but I hope to complete it after I get moved and settled in. However, the book after that is beginning to take shape. It just might… No, I’ll surprise readers. If it all works out, it will be a bit of a surprise.

I haven’t written anything since May, but I have a feeling that’s about to change. Someone commented that this particular post sounds a bit disjointed, but so is my life at the moment. Oh well…

Until next time, think of something goofy that’s taken place in your life, just for laughs. I think that’s what I’ll do. I could use a good laugh. How about you? Now back to the packing boxes.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website (which is in dire need of updating)

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

Ain’t life grand? You betcha! It’s all about perspective.